Friday, October 15, 2010

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While a 37-year-old Syrian man clings to life after being attacked and beaten as he walked home from work early Tuesday morning, the three men accused of the assault made their first court appearance Thursday afternoon, hours after Police Chief Cam Sanchez told the press he’s “had it” with gang violence.

The man, George Ied, has been on life support since arriving at Cottage Hospital not long after the incident took place. Police believe he was walking to his home on Salinas Street from work at Mi Fiesta Liquor, and was on the 1300 block of Punta Gorda Street, only a block away from home, when he was punched, beaten, and stomped unconscious.

Three alleged gang members — including two brothers who were recently released from federal jail — have been arrested for the attack, and were in front of Judge Donna Geck for arraignment Thursday afternoon. Their appearance was brief, and the case was continued to Tuesday as their attorney representation is sorted out.

SBPD

Ismael Parra

The three — Steven Santana, Miguel Parra and Ismael Parra — each face an attempted murder charge with a gang enhancement, and a separate charge of being an active participant in a criminal street gang. Miguel Parra is being held in County Jail on no bail, while his brother and Santana each have bails of $500,000. Prosecutor Hans Almgren asked the judge to increase their bails to $1 million, considering the case could very well turn into a murder case, but defense attorney Megan Leisz said that, if and until that happens, the bail should remain where it is.

Dispatched police went door-to-door on Tuesday looking for witnesses of the assault as well as possible evidence. Not far from the site of the attack police noticed an unattended fire in the backyard of a residence and contacted two brothers who lived there. Police “determined they had just been in a fight,” according to Lt. Paul McCaffrey, and found what he described as “charred clothing,” believing it to be burned evidence which would link the two to the assault. Sanchez said one of them was armed with a knife and had blood on him, though he wouldn’t say which one.

Developing leads, detectives identified a third suspect, 23-year-old Steven Santana, who was arrested later that day.

SBPD

Miguel Parra

In a press conference Thursday on the steps of the police station, Sanchez spoke grimly of the victim’s chances, telling reporters that Ied “will never be able to tell us” what happened. Ied’s survival has been considered unlikely since he was admitted to the hospital, and the last word is that he is in extremely critical condition and on life support.

Meanwhile, Sanchez said gangs are stepping up their activity. “They’re stepping outside their own box and attacking innocent people,” he said. Gang-on-gang violence, particularly between the East and Westside gangs, has been common in recent years, despite a perceived lack of serious gang crime since a crescendo in 2007 and 2008. But alleged gang members attacking innocent victims is something different. Sanchez said he had no information which would indicate the suspects knew the victim or had any interactions with him prior to when they allegedly attacked him.

That was particularly troubling to Sanchez, who said the community is “in fear, and they should be,” adding that a meeting Monday morning to rearrange the department’s priorities was being planned. “We as a police department also get frustrated when this stuff happens.” He plans to “ratchet up” patrol and efforts to put an end to the violence.

The Parra brothers both had been in federal custody until recent months as a result of Operation Gator Roll, a large multi-agency strike on the Eastside gang in 2008. In federal court, 22-year-old Miguel Parra received 23 months for pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was released on June 17.

DOCUMENT

In a letter to a federal judge when he was being sentenced, Parra had said that his arrest—and the subsequent time he spent in federal jail— gave him a chance to grow up after a childhood during which his father was in prison, his mother worked in three jobs, and he turned to alcohol and drugs.

Ismael Parra, 25, was released less than a month ago on September 16 after serving time for pleading guilty to a federal charge of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act conspiracy.

Each of the Parras are under federal supervised release, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Aveis, who prosecuted all of the men from the Gator Roll indictment. The terms of the release prohibit them from engaging in gang-related activity and require that they obey all laws. The two could be brought back in front of the federal judge on charges of violating the terms.

Of the 28 federally indicted men from Operation Gator Roll, at least 11 have already been released from custody. The operation took down dozens of Eastside gang members, and made a large dent in the criminal activity on the streets of Santa Barbara over the last two years. Sanchez said he still counted Gator Roll as a success, noting that the suspects would’ve been on the streets if they weren’t already in jail. “What would they have done these last two years if we didn’t do something?” Sanchez asked. The two served their time for the crimes they had committed. “The system is what it is.”

According to documents filed in federal court, both brothers — who each have young children — have a history of substance abuse problems, even at their young ages.

SBPD

Steven Santana

Miguel Parra was arrested in possession of a billy club in May 2003. He was placed on informal probation which he violated four months later when he was arrested for driving without a license and identifying himself as his older brother.

He was sentenced to camp placement, and in December 2003 was involved in a gang-related fight at the camp, for which he received 30 days in Juvenile Hall. He returned to camp, where he stayed until his release in March 2005.

A year later, in June 2006, Miguel Parra was fined for fighting in public, and on Halloween of 2006, he was arrested for drunk and reckless driving, and hit and run. He was sentenced to 74 days in jail and three years probation for that incident.

In July 2007, police searched his home and allegedly found cocaine and a throwing star. He eventually pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and possession of a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 60 days in County Jail, and later 30 days for violation of probation.

In 2008 he was convicted of a minor in possession of alcohol charge and in July 2008 was cited for driving with a suspended license when he was operating an ATV on the beach, though he explained at the time he didn’t think he needed a license to do so.

Ismael Parra has two open cases currently working their way through superior court. In one, he faces charges of battery of a police officer and resisting arrest. According to court documents, he allegedly refused to remove a t-shirt with “805 Southern Cali” written on it at Earl Warren Showgrounds, and later allegedly struck a deputy. In the other, he is facing charges of giving false information to a police officer and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He pleaded guilty to a charge related to pushing and hitting his pregnant girlfriend in October 2003, and was sentenced to three years probation. The next year he received three years probation for possession of a wooden mini-baseball bat.

According to superior court records, Santana has been charged four times with misdemeanor crimes, the most recent coming in June 2010 for an open intoxicant. Santana also pleaded guilty in 2007 to disturbing the peace for using some off-color language. He has never faced serious criminal charges.

The three will be back for arraignment on October 19 at 8:30 a.m. in front of Geck.

Comments

Sorry Sanchez, you do not come across as the tough guy necessary to put the gangs away. Its your fault for having let it get this far. This town has been concerned about the gang situation for a long time, and other than gator roll, ( which was essentially a federal deal ) you have done zip.

When asked about the gang injunction about a year or so ago, you said you were pondering it. Now you say its a ways away from that, and its only a tool. That tells me it ain't happening.

I cannot understand your lethargy in dealing with this problem. Frankly, a press conference is pretty much all that we expect of you. Its too bad your job is an appointed one.

To the two Parra brothers & Santana: Here's to hoping they lock you all up as the distempered chihuahuas you are, little men with tiny brains, puffed up punks who think killing an innocent man is a good business for you.

Can't we just string them up from a freeway overpass like three pinatas and save the taxpayers money? Darn. I guess we can't. There are some justices worth carrying out at the local level. These three morons more than qualify. Pathetic.

Have a nice visit to the lethal injection room in a about twenty years. Unless your defense lawyer plays her little whiny violin real nice for your miserable sakes.

Funny how at the exact time Cam decided to announce he is "ready to crack down on gang violence" and that he "vows to change his departments priorities", he is simultaneously raiding two marijuana dispensaries in Goleta an SB.

Yeah, BS! Haven't SBPD and the Sheriff's department been cracking down on Gang Violence for years? Meanwhile, all those thugs and hooligans they put away during operation gator roll appear to be moving back out to the streets.

I'd love to see the kill counts of SB gangs over the past five years vs. the kill count of SB Dispensaries over the last five years.... Yeah, priorities.... RIGHT

Scam Sanchez's comments are almost verbatim to his comments after the beating and mugging on Shoreline Drive in 2007 in which the victim was a was a man out for a walk in his neighborhood.

This time he admits that he and SBPD have done absolutely squat regarding gangs. Gator Roll? That was a federal operation. Wait, wasn't Scam running and touting HIS success with that?

It is time he lost his job.

Year long investigations for pot eradication? How many of these have we read about? A meeting to address priorities? DAMN SCAM! WTF? Where was that meeting the other times innocents were attacked? Are you saying there was no discussion to "rearrange the department’s priorities" when a kid is murdered on State Street? Murdered during the Fourth of July among innocents?

What was your reaction then? Oh, you took a trip to Texas on taxpayer funds. We want our money back.

Apparently not! Oh, there were those pow-wows and picnics arranged so the gangs could strategize. That's tough on gangs, Scam. It's time you left town. Take your ego stroking On-Patrol TV show with you.

There are two tried and true policies that could significantly reduce gang violence in Santa Barbara. First is to have a judge issue a gang injunction which makes it illegal for gang members to congregate, even in a group as small as two. Hang out together - go to jail. Second, as in many European cities the police need to get out of their cars and walk around on the street in groups of three to five. It should be common to see police officers strolling the streets of Santa Barbara in groups of at least three officers. This method of policing drives the gang members indoors to avoid being detained and questioned and searched for weapons. I know this all sounds a little draconion, but we really need to deal with these losers. They are dangerous for us all.

Maybe if my next door neighbor did not sell meth to the Eastside gang...they would not be so violent. Two of the Eastside gang live next to me with their baby. It sure breaks my heart to hear the babies mom talking baby talk and then coughing as she smokes meth...every half hour for 3 days.I have been complaining to the police for over 7 years about my meth dealing neighbor with no action. Get tough ??Make no mistake...the Eastside is a santuary for illegal aliens, drug dealers and gang bangers. Thanks Cam !!

Marijuana is the problem. Continue cracking down on marijuana and our gang problem will be resolved. After all there is proof marijuana is the problem, after all Ismael got caught with a small quantity of it.

Who would like to bet that the victim and the attackers knew each other? I will even go further and say there must have been problems with one or all three of the attackers before this incident happened. I'm not saying there is anything that justifies this heinous crime, I'm just saying there is a reason here.We don't need injunctions or mobs of police patrolling the streets, we need the police to use the same policing it does against marijuana enforcement/eradication to be done against the young street punks that roam the streets. How come we all know where they congregate but the police are clueless?

So you're linking these guys potential use of marijuana to a random act of violence?

Marijuana does not cause random acts of violence. The only thing related to marijuana that potentially induces violence and its continued prohibition.

To alter your words AZ2SB: We need the police to use the same policing it does against marijuana enforcement/eradication against gang violence INSTEAD OF marijuana. Can't we all see that marijuana is NOT the problem here? It's a *&%^ing political shield for politicians and law enforcement to hide behind so they can excersice hidden agendas I.E. funding and re-election.

Your name suggest you are from AZ, so I excuse you for any political misunderstandings or ignorance you have.

I don't believe marijuana is the problem, and I have a big problem with police using their resources to enforce prohibitionist laws instead of doing their job and preventing violent crimes. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

What happen to George was absolute cruelty,he is a super nice guy and my heart is broken by what happen to him and what he is going through. These criminals deserve the worst punishment possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not care about what happened to them in the past, many people have bad childhoods and do not become sociopaths.

With all due respect AZ2SB, I disagree. We do need groups of police patroling our streets on foot. The last time I was in New York City I was out on the street past 1:00 AM and they were there and I felt safe. The last time I was in Paris, I was out on the street past 1:00 AM and there they were there and I felt safe. The police in Paris walk around in groups of 4 or 5 sometimes. This style of policing drives the scum off the streets. It works. The injunction works as well and has been tested in many communities. I agree that we have to get our local police department off the pot beat and on the street beat. But they need to be out there face to face with the gang members showing them whose neighborhood this really is.

One effect caused by over-development is gang activity. It is nearly always found in areas of high-density. Illegal drug use and sales is higher and more prevalent in areas where a larger number of people are crammed into a smaller space. This environment lends itself well to gang activity. It's ironic that the city's housing policies promote these very same types of environments.

“They’re stepping outside their own box and attacking innocent people,”

What about that man who lived near Modoc Rd who was killed a few years ago because the killers thought he was someone else?

"Sanchez said he still counted Gator Roll as a success, noting that the suspects would’ve been on the streets if they weren’t already in jail. 'What would they have done these last two years if we didn’t do something?' Sanchez asked."

If it was a success, why is an innocent man in grave condition?

So what defense do those who cannot afford to move out of these gang-infested neighborhoods have? After all, God forbid should law-abiding people be allowed to to bear arms.

I also would add that Georgy makes a solid point about overcrowding. When too many animals (including the human animal) are crammed together bad things happen. So what is the underlying cause of our population explosion in California?

City's need to plan better. Rather than maxing out growth and reducing a good life experience for humans, city's need to set permanent restrictions on growth and housing. When an areas limit is maxed out, citys need to refuse to be overrun and let growth go elsewhere, otherwise social and environmental problems will always arise. The current thinking on planning and development is based on continual growth, which is unrealistic and destructive.

Eckermann-You are talking about the tourist parts of New York City and Paris, I really doubt the whole city is patrolled like you say. The problem here is not the number of police officers but how the numbers we have are being managed. We are not up against super-intelligent beings or a well-funded cartel here. These are bunch of guys who do everything half-assed, even crime, yet our "city's finest" are always shrugging their shoulders with their hands in the air when anything bad happens. One thing is for sure, don't let anybody try to sell any marijuana at a dispensary in this town because they are all over it.

Hey, I long ago noticed something! Gangs are an American problem, negligible south of the border. Oh, heck... yeah, that's right, Mexico and Central America have recently become Americanized, gangs galore. Poop!

The Independent is in a real bind on this one. The owner of the liquor store that employed the victim is suggesting that he was targeted because he is an Arab (from Syria.) Thus, the victim may be a Muslim, the Indy's new favorite victim group. But the assailants are Latino gangsters, the political shock troops of the progressive left -- don't like bilingual education, racial preferences, open borders? We'll threaten you with the gangs.

Kind of like the OJ Simpson case, race trumps gender. Who do the progressives allocate victim status to in this horrific case?

I thought americans didn't like middle eastern ppl... americans are the most violent people.. They are bombing the sh1it of the middle eastern...americans are killing innocent people everyday in pakistan and afaghistan hahahha.

I think we need more than just more patrolling going on. We need a police force that can be taken seriously. Much as it pains me to say it, they're kind of a joke. I'm sure there are a LOT of great policemen and women out there every day, but they suffer a major image problem, created as far back as the 1960s. Unfairly nor not, Cam Sanchez has been perceived as soft on crime. And whether or not the statistics back that up, whether or not his intentions are good doesn't really matter. The results matter and they aren't giving the community results. Crime happens. EVERYWHERE. And there has always been gang on gang violence in SB, which is unacceptable as is. But when people start getting killed in parking lots and on the streets and they have no gang affiliations....well, there's gotta be a line somewhere.

People don't commit crimes if they think they're going to get caught. And when you're dealing with gangs, it's even tougher to be a deterrent since most of them have family (blood and gang) ties in prison. Most gangs are run FROM prison and they see it as a rite of passage to go in there.

What's needed is a completely different image (perhaps regime) in the SBPD, as well as some effective strategy to actually keep those arrested in jail and prosecuted for their offenses.

I thought a "sanctuary city" was a city who didn't deport illegal alien criminals, like San Francisco. The ICE bus stops every week at SB county jail to pick up people. While they aren't out roaming the streets for illegals, I don't think they provide them sanctuary either. I have not known an illegal in SB that thought they had sanctuary because they lived here. Illegals in SB worry just as much as the ones in Phoenix about being deported, and they have Sheriff Joe to worry about. It is usually the criminals that don't worry about being in this country illegally and breaking the law or about being deported.

Interesting there's so much hoopla made over these Latino attackers .... while on the WASP side of town, a student is laying permanently disfigured in the hospital because his face was turned into mush against a sidewalk by 2 San Marcos football players. This story gets no coverage because their rich parents intimidate school officials and teachers to shut up. Independent? Want to look into that one. I saw a watered down version in the News Press on Sunday. Want to give us the full story? Or are we living in some redneck Texas town where football players can get away with anything they want....

AZ2SB, that's pretty much exactly what a "sanctuary city" is supposed to be. Trouble is, pretty much every city in CA deports illegals. I think people feel that any city that doesn't engage in weekly round ups of it's citizens, weeding out and shipping off illegals can be called a sanctuary city.

The idea that we're a sanctuary city really bothers me because it's just rhetoric. And right now, what we seem to be lacking more than ever is some cold, hard logic not more cutesy slogans, etc.

@thatchersdiary, I had no idea about that. Terrible. (That it happened and that it hasn't been widely reported.)

Why aren't these activists outraged and protesting on the streets of Mexico City instead of L.A. or Phoenix? Oh, thats right, it is too dangerous and there isn't First Amendment rights that protect them like they do in the "evil" U.S.

In my humble opinion we are wasting precious tax money by sending these kids to prisons/jails. It cost more to send them to jail than to send them to college. So around about 6th grade, the kids should be tracked for going to college and being more constructive with their time.

True, the money may come from a different pot, but we all would be better off by having our kids be educated than to be gang bangers.

Additionally, the violence on TV these days has gotten much worse than 10 years ago. It is more graphic and it shows no consequences nor pain - indeed, some of it is portrayed as fun and exciting. Likewise the computer games are full of violence. Somehow or other we need to send a message to kids that violence is not OK.

This is sickeneing! This city spends WAY too much time, resources & $ worrying about things like global warming, globalization, ABM missile testing @ Vandenberg, Fidel Castro's imminent demise in Cuba & an assorted slew of issues when the REAL problem is right in front of them; GANGS! Jeez people, wake the hell up & realize that these vermin HAVE overrun your city & innocent people ARE being attacked as a result of it, some even being killed.I don't give a rat's a$$ what color your skin is, what language you speak, what country of origin you're from, what your religion is, if you're in a gang YOU ARE AN URBAN TERRORIST!Like their brethren in the caves of Tora Bora, Afghanistan, these tumors in the colon of society understand only 1 thing: ERADICATION. It is a very difficult thing for me to shed tears, but after hearing of George's passing last nite I shed some out of sadness for his family & friends, some out of anger @ how lenient (alright, I meant liberal) policies & leadership has allowed this tragedy to happen.The mantra of the liberal know-it-all clique is "think globally, act locally" & while it is an effective mantra, what is ineffective are the issues tackled.I ain't a conservative, but I'm DEFINITELY not a liberal & it is w/ this that I say these scumbags need to be gotten rid of along w/ all their fellow brethren.To hell w/ coddling, to hell w/ rehabilitation, to hell w/ appeasement, let the roundups & lockdowns begin!All those methods (except the roundups& lockdowns) were tried & are a massive, epic failure.Gator Roll was a good start, but the city leaders basked in the glory of it for too long, grew complacent & now arrestees in that operation COMMITTED A MURDER!There's blood on people's hands right now & it ain't only on the hands of the criminals who actively committed this heineous crime.Time for change in leadership has come, but will SB's lib elite actually enact such change? I seriously doubt it.To George, brother, I never met you, but may your soul rest in God's peace, you're home now.To George's family & friends I offer my sincerest condolences & sympathies. He sounded like a good man who did no harm.To ALL those responsible for this, active & inactive, your judgements will eventually come & 1 way or the other, you will pay a price of sorts.Sorry for the rant, but this has really touched me in a way that has removed all civility from my heart.-henry

Murder in the 1st, maybe in the 2nd, but one thing is for sure, just like their victim, they will never see the streets again. This crime is part of larger injustice being committed everyday and I believe what Hank said about there being blood on other people's hands not just the attackers. These attacks should not be tolerated, and video games or not, kids should still know there are consequences to their actions. Violence is only bad when it is being committed against innocent people. Violence against bullies and cowards who attack people with other cowards, should be met with violence back. If we would stand up a little more, it would not be guys like George who end up in the hospital but guys like these, that think three on one guy is an acceptable manner of fighting. You sow violence and you will reap violence. Prison will be the ground they will reap it from. George R.I.P. your journey is over, may your family recover and make sense of this tragedy.

My heart goes out to the Syrian man and his family and friends. I've been into Mi Fiesta several times and the guys there are genuinely nice people. I've always felt welcome - the guys there provide a nice neighborhood vibe. It's so terribly tragic that this has happened. As much as I've seen a fair share of thugs trolling around, I still felt outside of their world (thank goodness) and largely ignored. It's extremely disturbing to hear that they're targeting innocents outside of the gang world. That poor 15-year-old boy (Luis Angel?) and the man at Hendry's Beach - too many undeserved deaths. These gang-bangers don't deserve to even have a first chance. As soon as they're even associated with a gang they should be locked away. In a case like this, I think the real justice for these accused three would be 'an eye for an eye.'

No need to apologize hank, I feel the same rage at foolishness which has led to this.

And dotio is right about violence on media. I know the usual intellectual crowd will say there is no connection between media violence and acting it out, but I avoid violent movies because I know my adrenaline gets pumped up when I see one, (the graphic Teminator/Charles Bronsen/the crap I see advertised on loud screaming T.V. commercials) Also, I talked to a Norwegian a few years ago who was telling me that Norway puts a lid on violent media because they recognize the effects it has. I say this because Norway is hardly a conservative society lest people accuse me of hawking some right-wing agenda.

Anyway, let's get right back to the root of this problem: a man is dead and trends indicate many more will die in like manner. This is what happens when the Ponzi sceme of using cheap immigrant labor to save a few bucks trumps paying decent wages and upholding labor laws. Anyone who doesn't see this is living in a fantasy world.

Since the police obviously are having zero impact on gang violence, how about this? Let the citizens of SB protect themselves! Maybe if the victim was allowed to carry a knife or gun as a responsible citizen, these gang members with criminal records (therefore should not be allowed to carry any weapons) would think twice before trying to assault a random stranger. We have disarmed society to the point that everyone is a sitting duck. Buy your mace people. Buy tasers. Buy a knife. The cops won't be there when you need them, only when they need revenue to pay for their pensions! Wake the hell up and protect yourselves. It's the only way. Stop relying on someone else and giving up your rights as an individual.

I can't be sure, but both "hank" and "zigot" may be unclear as to what exactly is the criteria for charging a hate crime

I double-clicked on 'hate crime' in "zigot's" question, and Answers.com provided the following excerpt:

:: "The precise definition of a hate crime varies from state to state. Some states define a hate crime as any crime based on a belief regarding the victim's race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry. Some states exclude crimes based on a belief regarding the victim's sexual orientation. Others limit their definition to certain crimes such as harassment, assault, and damage to property. In all states the victim's actual status is irrelevant. For example, if a victim is attacked by someone who believes that the victim is gay, the attack is a hate crime whether or not the victim is actually gay." ::

Perhaps, "hank" you can double-click on "white" and get the answer to your question.

I know "hate crimes" is a popular term as is "cop killer" but I fail to see why it is worse if the murderer was motivated by race or the victim was a cop than if the killer committed the act because they did it for the thrill of it, or to cover up another crime.

Murder should stand on it's own: if one is so warped that they go an kill people, such a person is clearly not safe to have running around loose among the general populace.

Bill,A hate crime terrorizes a whole group, whereas an individually motivated (or randomly senseless) murder does not. For instance, a black man or a gay man might reasonably anticipate that verbal taunts could be a lead up to being attacked, or even murdered, because other black men or gay men have been attacked simply for being black or gay.A man who murders his neighbor over an argument doesn't cause all neighbors to fear being attacked, or fear having arguments. Think of hate crimes as terrorism.